When you apply for SNAP, also called food stamps, your state will look at whether you qualify based on three main factors: Your household income, immigration status, and household size.
When it comes to SNAP, a household is a little more complicated than just “who you live with.” It specifically means people you buy and prepare food with, although some people automatically count as part of your household.
Here’s what to know about the definition of a household when you’re applying for food stamps.
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How is a household defined for SNAP?#how-is-a-household-defined-for-snap
For SNAP purposes, your household is made up of the people you buy and prepare food with. This means you don’t need to automatically count everyone that lives in the same residence as you.
For example, if you have a roommate but you buy groceries and cook meals separately, then they usually do not count as part of your SNAP household.
Or if you’re an adult over the age of 22 and you live with a parent but you buy and prepare food separately, then you may be able to apply for SNAP separately.
And if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend who doesn't live with you, you don't need to count them as part of your household, even if you sometimes buy and cook food together.
But the important thing to know is that you can apply separately from people you share housing with, as long as you don’t share food.
Who needs to be counted in my household for SNAP?#who-needs-to-be-counted-in-my-household-for-snap
There are a few situations where SNAP requires people to be counted in the same household, even if they don’t always buy and cook food together.
Each of the following is almost always counted as a single household for SNAP:
- Legally married spouses living together
- A parent or parents and any dependent children under 22 living together
- A child under 18 living with an adult guardian, even if that adult isn’t the child’s parent
In these cases, SNAP automatically counts everyone together and looks at the combined household income.
Know that there are also some exceptions to the household rules that might help you become eligible even if you might think you're not.
Some special SNAP household situations include people who are elderly or disabled, or who have live-in attendants or boarders.
What if I’m not sure who counts as part of my SNAP household?#what-if-im-not-sure-who-counts-as-part-of-my-snap-household
If you’re not sure who counts as part of your household when you complete your SNAP application, don’t worry, you’ll have a chance to clarify later.
Most SNAP applications ask you to list everyone in your residence and then ask you to identify whether those people are “applying for benefits” as part of your household.
If you list roommates or anyone else who isn’t applying, your SNAP caseworker is likely to confirm the details with you during the SNAP interview.
Caseworkers are trained on SNAP rules and can help you figure out the right household number for your SNAP application and correct it if needed.
